Older Adult Abuse Task Force

The Task Force is a committee of the Saskatoon Council on Aging. Committee members consist of representatives from the SCOA board of directors, health care professionals and older adults. The committee came together at the invitation of the Council in 2005. Since that time, members have focused on advocating for policy for seniors that will support efforts against older adult abuse and to use all opportunities to raise awareness of the issue of older adult abuse.

According to the World Health Organization, abuse is defined as “single or repeated acts or lack of appropriate action, occurring within a relationship where there is an expectation of trust, which causes harm or distress to an older person” (WHO, 2002). The committee recognizes that older adult abuse is very broad and complex, and that any remedial initiatives will require raising levels of awareness in the public, and/or a considerable degree of public education.

The committee is dedicated to advancing any initiative, which will have the result of reducing or eliminating any type of older adult abuse in the community. The committee recognizes that there may be some aspects of abuse, which for a number of reasons present themselves as more amenable to improvement than others, and is prepared to pursue those issues as stepping stones to a more general improvement.

Structure

In order to improve efficiency, the Task Force has developed sub-committees or working groups as follows:

The World Older Adult Abuse Awareness Day Working Group – this group plans and executes programs to mark this international Awareness Day on June 15th annually.

Pro Bono Students of Canada Project with the Saskatoon Council on Aging 2007/08

We are very fortunate to have law students do pro bono work for us. The document is entitled Legislation for Protection of Persons in Care - Manitoba and Saskatchewan Comparison and is available here. Also, view the summary here.

Relationship with the Saskatoon Council on Aging

Members of the Board of the Saskatoon Council on Aging sit on the Task Force on Older Adult Abuse and report to the Board on the work of the task force.